January & February 1975 Issue
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Naval War College Review Volume 28 Article 17 Number 1 January-February 1975 January & February 1975 Issue The .SU . Naval War College Follow this and additional works at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review Recommended Citation War College, The .SU . Naval (1975) "January & February 1975 Issue," Naval War College Review: Vol. 28 : No. 1 , Article 17. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Naval War College Review by an authorized editor of U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 1 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 2 War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 3 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 4 War College: January & February 1975 Issue PRESIDENT'S NOTES Most military officers like to refer to fessional response in a perilous situ· themselves and to their occupation in ation-a response that came largely from terms of "professionalism." They like to within, but one that was also influenced consider themselves experts in a field by his sense of responsibility to the that, according to one definition of organization of which he was a part. professional, demands "advanced study Commander Na ugh ton and his fellow in a specialized field." Indeed, the prisoners have, in this issue of the raison d'etre of the Naval War College is Review, given us an example of which the professional development of of we can all be proud. ficers. This is, as any true professional lf we are to refer to ourselves as will recognize, far too narrow a defini professionals, we must, each and every tion-although advanced and continuing one of us, perform to a high profes study throughout one's career is essen sional standard in this larger definition tial to professionalism. of the word. These ideas of competence In the broadest sense, profes and personal commitment are certainly sionalism requires a high degree of skill not new. Professor Gibbs' fine paper and competence, but, more than that, also in this Review-reflects Clausewitz's professionalism is a state of mind which understanding of these ideas. Today, demands of those who would be called however, they take on special signifi professionals the highest ethical stand· cance. The American people no longer ards and morally responsible pattern of take for granted the performance of any conduct. of the professions, including the mili In the history of the Navy, prof es· tary. The responsibility of professionals sionalism has been manifested in many to their organization in this context is different ways-none, however, more crystal clear. unique or ennobling than the per formance of our prisoners of war in North Vietnam. One of the best expressions of how an organization can be enriched by the efforts of a few is to be found in the conduct of Comdr. Robert Naughton JULIEN J. LEBOURGEOIS during his 6-year confinement in enemy Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy hands. His was an extraordinarily pro· President, Naval War College Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 5 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 2 NAVAL WAR COLLEGE REVIEW Throughout the years of poUtlCal dissonance created by the Vietnam war1 the one element tI1at could command aJmost universal support in the United States was concern for our prisoners of war. Through an unswerving loyalty to themselves, their fellow prisoners, and to tlrn Nation as a who}e, these men 1 confined, torwred1 and used for poJitical propaganda, were able to teturn llome with a11 honor and dignity often lost by men in similar circumstances, (This article represents an abridged version of an extensive researc11 effort conducted by the author.) MOTIVATIONALFACTORS OF AMERICAN PRISIONERS OF WAR HELD BY THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM An article prepared hy Commaruler ltoherl J. Naughton, U.S. Navy Introduction, January 1973 wit• genuine show of interest and concern nessed the end of the longest continual for utheir" POW's, armed conflict in the 200,year history The Vietnam POW's, however, were of the United States. Sixty days after not the first prisoners of war who had the signing of the Paris agreement1 the received publicity. Those American men longest recorded incarceration of Ameri· who had been held prisoners in all can prisoners of war (POW's) ended for recent wars have been the subject of more than 500 men1 over 450 of whom public examination, and their return to had been held in the Democratic Repu b the United States has provided a great lic of Vietnam (DRV). Several of these deal of human interest news copy. men had endured more than 8 years as The post-Korean period was the most prisoners of the DRV, while one POW lucid example of such investigation. held by the Vie !Cong was detained over Eugene Kinkead 's widely read book, In 9 years. Every War But One, based on The POW's received a warm and tumultuous welcome from the people of The source material for this article is the United States. This served to create drawn £ram the author's 6 years of imprison· a unanimity among Americans which ment in the Democrallc Republic of Vietnam had been lacking during the long years •-his experience and observations plus the 1 narratives and reCTeclions of 118 other pris of the Vietnam conflict. The Nation s oners with whom he, at various times, shared public display of pride and relief was a a cell. https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 6 War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 7 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 8 War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 9 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 10 War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 11 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 12 War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 13 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 14 War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 15 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 16 War College: January & February 1975 Issue Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 1975 17 Naval War College Review, Vol. 28 [1975], No. 1, Art. 17 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol28/iss1/17 18 War College: January & February 1975 Issue 15 1 Ciausewitz .'i dictum that uwar is an extension of policy by other mea!ls u has CLAUSEWITZ become an artjcJe of faith for the military professional. While this concept provides a much needed theoretical ON THE framework for understanding and deal· ing with the phenome11on, his discussion MORAL FORCES on the moral (psychological) forces pro vides an equally illuminating insight into the dynamics of war. IN WAR An article prepared by llr. Norman II. Gibbs Clausewitz was deeply concerned about the importance of the moral with why men fight, what it is that forces in war. makes wars emerge and develop as they This is one of those points at which do 1 and what general factors contribute Clausewitz goes in a new direction in to victory and defeat. However, the which he is concerned with the impor writing and discussion about Clause• tance of the concept of ideology in war. witz's book On War which have taken But first a proviso. I think we have a place during the past 30 years or so have tendency to be overly narrow in our use H concentrated largely on his argument of the word "ideology and, therefore, that "war is an extension of policy by reduce its usefulness for our purpose. 0 other means. It is undoubtedly an Ideologies are not just politica\ creeds. argument basic to his whole concept of To be of full value in the analysis of the nature of wars that actually occur as warfare, or indeed any other part of distinct from any theoretical concept of social analysis, ideology should be seen war: or, to use his own words, it is an as something more comprehensive than argument which helps explain the con· simply political doctrine; something trast between real war on the one hand which, operating in the hearts and and absolute or ideal war on the other. minds of men, moves them and inspires But the view of war as an extension of them to action. Of course, it is true that policy was no discovery of Clausewitz, "something" can often be identified as I think he would have been the first with political doctrine and that such to admit.